I posted a few weeks ago about the role of video games in sports, and how many athletes today learn strategy by playing the video game version of their sport (and not just by practicing on the field). Beyond sports, war, and fighting games there are also hundreds of video games devoted to education – and according to Joseph Olin, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, “nearly two-thirds of all games sold are rated E or E+, meaning they’re found to be appropriate for players of all ages or children over 10 years of age.”

I think what many people fail to realize is that video games are not simply a distraction or a way to pass the time. We’re heading into an ever more interactive future, and my guess is that eventually we’ll see people applying the logic of online/video games for training in the classroom and all kinds of disciplines. What do you think?

6 responses to “What’s wrong with video games?”

I think video games have been given a bad rap. Not only are there a lot of educational video games, but I’ve heard it argued that non-educational video games can help to improve reading skills. And think about the social interaction in the massive online RPGs? RPGs require players to adhere to a set of rules (much like our cultural norms and laws), work together for ‘party missions’ and interact in an appropriate way. If a player is caught cheating or harassing other players, he/she is put on probation or banned from the game. Video games can also foster creativity and teach problem solving skills, both valuable skills in the job market.

I see that more and more, games are being used as a social lubricant; people gather to play a game (including retirement communities, not just “young folks”) and hang out (I’ll be writing a post on this soon). I think gaming is a great thing to do, but in moderation (not 16 hours a day).